Purpose

Response works with responsibility as a framework for public good interests in governance, sustainability, education and organisational programmes. The Treaty of Waitangi and partnership with Māori are priorities in Response programmes. Response is a lead partner in the UNU Waikato Centre of Expertise in Education for Sustainability (RCE Waikato).

In Aotearoa-New Zealand and the Pacific region Response supports projects on sustainability, with collaboration across environmental, economic and social sectors. In keeping with our context in the Pacific ‘Water Continent’ RESPONSE gives particular attention to issues on water and climate.

RESPONSE is a member of the International Alliance for Responsible and Sustainable Societies, associated with the Charles Leopold Mayer Foundation, France. With the formation of the Alliance in March 2015, Betsan Martin became Executive Chair, and Yolanda Ziaka, Greece, Executive Vice-Chair.

See Alliance-respons for website and data base of resource materials, and brochure Alliance brochure for the Alliance in English, French and Spanish. <www.alliance-respons.net>

RCE Waikato Aotearoa NZ Centre of Education for Sustainability

RESPONSE and the University of Waikato partners and collaborators (Regional Council, Schools, Enviroschools, businesses and national and regional organizations are developing the work of the Centre.

Responsibility grows in importance as freedom discovers itself to be unjust. Emmanuel Levinas

UPDATES

Sustainable Development – a Wedding Cake -a ‘Rockström shape for the SDG’s

In April Johan Rockström for the Swedish Resilience Institute visited NZ and brought new thinking from ‘planetary boundaries’ to sustainable development goals. Let’s speak of a Wedding Cake with land and forests, water and oceans, biodiversity and atmosphere as the base for the SDG’s, rather than the three interacting spheres of social, environmental and economy spheres. This is SDG and Planet Boundaries May18 thoughts from the SDG Conference in Wellington, NZ

Rockström’s SDG Wedding Cake

Investing for People and the Planet

A NZ discussion policy leads to New Responsible Investment April18 with fiduciary duty to future generations and stakeholder , rather than shareholder interests. Photo at a Ministry for Environment briefing on Climate Investment.

A draft of a “Global Pact for the Environment” – is to be a basis for a new UN treaty to define fundamental environmental rights.

It was launched at a high-level event in Paris, with the backing of French President Emmanuel Macron, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and IUCN President Zhang Xinsheng.

The Pact synthesises fundamental and common principles of environmental law. It sets out principles which compel States and other legal persons to protect the environment, promote sustainable development and intergenerational equity, and ensure the right of access to information and environmental justice.

Fiji Partnership Meeting

2017 is the year to refresh attention to importance of Fiji and the Pacific Islands for COP23. Earlier in July Betsan Martin went to a Climate Change action partnership meeting in Fiji – it was Marrakesh Partnership meeting – this is a direct initiative from COP22, with bringing non-State actors into higher profile for the climate commitments.

Fiji and Pacific Islands leaders are bringing global attention to Pacific Peoples, and to Oceans. The Climate Change Action Partnership meeting brought discussions on responsibility for adaptation, which is the main focus for Pacific islands peoples, and on mitigation for industrial countries. These was a big emphasis on climate finance – without that Pacific Islands cannot implement adaptation – example with forestry and coastal protection, disaster resistant housing, renewable energy, food security. PSIDS Statement Suva 5 July

Climate Chance is an annual summit for the mobilization of non-state actors to contribute to the Climate COPs with global agenda for action on climate responsability. See ‘Resources’ page for synthesis of the 2016 Summit in Nantes France.

The Conference linked to the education theme in the Paris Agreement of COP21. Representatives of the UNU Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) contributed to the SDG themes, and shared leading initiatives in the field of education. See the Ahmedabad Plan of Action and ESDG Recommendations.

Betsan was in the climate group, and gave a presentation on education for climate Responsibility .

COP21 – Several Alliance for Responsible and Sustainable Societies members attended COP21.

COP 21 is pivotal for creating a platform for global co-operation on climate. Affirming the target of 2 degrees, ‘and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees’, is key to keeping stronger ambition in view. Let us congratulate Small Island Developing States for their remarkable concerted strategy to keep the Parties vigilant about a stronger ambition of 1.5 degrees.

A science panel on the cryosphere brought home the compelling prospect of crossing irreversible thresholds. The cryosphere includes all the regions of ice, which are key to the stability of the climate system, and directly linked to sea levels and the impacts of altered thermodynamics and hydrological systems.

As a case in point, when permafrost melts, CO2 and methane are released into the atmosphere. A 2 degree rise would release 50 Gt of Carbon, out of a total global carbon budget of 275 Gt. COP21 Pivotal Alliance 21Dec15

A Review of commitments for COP21 in a framework of responsible climate targets with feasible transition pathways is based on research commissioned by Dr Kennedy Graham, PM, Green Party new Zealand. See Responsible Feasible Climate Ambition

Alliance Meetings December 2015

In Paris, Alliance members held parallel meetings to make plans for governance of the Alliance and make strategic plans. We are proposing the Alliance becomes a Resource Centre for Interdependent, Responsible and Sustainable Societies. A discussion document ‘Governance Alliance Assemb 20Dec15has been circulated to Alliance members.

ECO and Response brought forward the need to include and elaborate responsibility and public good alongside rights as an ethical reference for IUCN plans and programmes. A brief paper on Responsibility and public good was circulated at this meeting for reviewing the 2017-2020 IUCN global and Oceania programmes

Inger Anderson, Director General IUCN

Diana Shand, New Zealand and Judge Antonio Benjamin, Brazil

IUCN meeting in Great Council of Chiefs Fiji

Seminars at the Collége de France International Law Faculty 9-12 July included presentation of proposals for the COP21 Climate Negotiations in December, and in-depth discussions on Law, Responsibility and Climate. These will be posted soon. here are some photos.

Prof. Mireille Delmas-Marty (left), Prof Alain Supiot (Middle)

Adrian Macey (NZ), Betsan Martin (NZ), Patrick Hébert (Fr)

Adrian Macey (NZ), Pierre Calame (fr)

Patrick Hébert, Betsan Martin, Adrian Macey

Trans Pacific Partnership – the Investor States Disputes provisions allow for corporate law suits against governments which regulate for health and environmental benefits. A provision for a staged introduction of reduction of carbon emissions by corporates would put such a trade agreement in line with climate commitment aspirations, and on a responsible pathway. There are no such provisions in the TPP. Read more Media TPP April 2015

RCE Penang meeting with RCE Waikato representative Betsan Martin, January 2oth, to plan a Webinar and further collaboration

The World Congress on International Law, Delhi India was co-hosted by Indian Society for Internal Law and the Forum for Ethics and Responsiblity, India, and featured a stream on Responsibility

We met with the Minister of Justice Sadananda Gowda, Mr Raimesh Jairam, Member of Parliament, Dr Behar, former Chief Secretary Madya Pradesh; Dr E. Natchiappan, President of the Indian Society of International Law – and others

The opening of the Congress with the Vice President of India, outlined that the UN was intended to stop wars between states, but now we have wars within States, which are largely about disaffection with governments. A legal instrument for ending these conflicts is not known. Members of the International Court of Justice and many other eminent speakers spoke about India-Africa links and as they spoke about the many different International Laws – Law of the Sea, Maritime Law, Montreal Protocol for Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, European Human Rights, the Convention on long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty. We were all enchanted with a presentation on Global Governance of Space by Professor Ram Jakhu, at McGill. He said Space is a mess! full of debris.

Monsieur Pierre Calame led the Responsibility Stream with principles of Responsibility and the Transitions approach, Neetu Sharma spoke about Food security – an area that touches so many different fields – access, economic systems, distribution. and Dr Nahid Fadousi from Bangladesh spoke about Child Rights.

Betsan Martin’s presentation on Law, Responsibility and Climate and, used ideas from the Symposium in NZ, and outlined Public Trust as a legal pathway for climate. While we hold the ambition of an international legal agreement, we have the reality of an evolutionary process. One of the issues not so often noted is that cumulative CO2 takes the challenge to greater heights.

We agreed on the Delhi Declaration as a statement to take forward for COP21 (to be mandated before circulating).

This event overlap with UNU Regional Centre of Expertise networks – When we went to an evening reception at the French Embassy I spoke to a judge of the International Court of Justice and two members of the International Law Commission who said that a proposal for Public Trust of the Atmosphere has just been accepted by the Law Commission.

A NZ Symposium on Law, Responsibility and Governance was co hosted by RCE Waikato, Te Piringa Law Faculty and supported by the Charles Mayer Foundation, France. This international event at the Waikato Tainui College brought Māori, Pacific leaders and French contributors to seek legal pathways for climate justice and a new approach to water governance. For a review and highlights of Law and Responsibility Sails

Key Messages from the Conference:

The Green/Blue economy in Small Island States puts the environment at the centre of the economy. SIDS is at the forefront of the ‘Green/Blue economy because they are natural resource economies. Small Island States are at the frontlines of climate change, with their security threatened by the impacts of climate on food security, fisheries, floods and droughts and weather disasters, ocean acidification, population migration. Digital connectivity is the way to overcome the tyranny of distance that is one of the challenges of SIDS. In Pacific world views, the oceans connect Islands. Partnerships between governments, private sector and NGO’s are vital for the management, regulation and protection of oceans and fisheries. Partnerships: Governments cannot lead development and transitions to green/blue economies alone. Business investment is need to catalyse innovation and provide expertise. Aid for sustainable development could be replaced by investment. UNANZ Presentation on the theme SIDS UNANZ Water July14Report onSmall Island Developing States comp Ph (1)Asia Pacific meeting of UNU Regional Centres of Expertise , Penang 2014 Sandy Morrison, Anthony Capon and Betsan Martin Open Letter on a Global Citizen Movement Johannesburg Nov. 2013. Bayo Akomolafe and Marta Benavides reflect on a Global Citizen’s Movement meeting in Johannesburg – they suggest change needs a paradigm shift in our modes of working and living. Angeline Greensill (Tainui) and Nicolas Krausz working on the ‘Compass’ for the Global citizen Movement. Compass for Global Citizens Movement Johannesburg Sth Africa Nov. 2013 Maria Humphries, Florencia Librizzi and Frank Scrimgeour at Kaarohirohi Conference, Hopuhopu, Hamilton.; Nov. 2013. Maaori business development and Principles of Responsible Management Education. http://cms.mngt.waikato.ac.nz/prmeconf/Home.aspx

October 2013. Edith Sizoo, Coordinator of Forum for Ethics and Responsibility, meets with leaders for interactive dialogue with India Rights and Responsibilities Forum. Edith’s Speech on Responsibility and a Gender Just Society

Aotearoa NZ – Maori interests in water spring up in response to government proposals to sell hydro energy assets. Click here for The Value of Water and the Price of Power

Charter for Responsibilities – Rio+20, 2012

RESPONSE and the International Forum on Ethics and Responsibility proposed a Charter of Universal Responsibilities in the agenda for Rio+20, the UN International Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil, June 2012. See <www.ethica-respons.net> For a review of the Rio+20 outcomes see: click here Rio does not ensure Responsibility for the planet Responsibility for Oceans – a proposal. click here For a rationale for a Charter for Universal Responsibilities click here. A proposed for a Charter for Universal Responsibilities click here. Call on Governments for a Charter for Universal Responsibilities click here

RESPONSE

1. Regional Network For the Pacific regional programme we are drawing from our Across Oceania network. This network for Responsibility has been generated over the past eight or nine years with links with partners in small Islands states and the larger countries of the southern part of the ‘Water Continent’ including Australia, Samoa, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Aotearoa-New Zealand. Current projects and resources:

‘The Power of Relational Responsibility’. Research Paper by Te Kawehau Hoskins, Betsan Martin and Maria Humphries.

2. Professional Network – Environment and Governance

Our document on ‘Ethics and Responsibility – Environment and Governance’ includes material from Aotearoa New Zealand, the Pacific region and reference to global issues on governance and environment. It draws on project work and research in the region. See Draft document by Betsan Martin and Te Kawehau Hoskins.